Control for executive posture chair



March 15, 1966 A. ClUFFlNl ETAL CONTROL FOR EXECUTIVE POSTURE CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1964 lNI/ENTOKS Aura/1'0 CAD/Z2! PJM b c/ 1447/25/22:

March 15, 1966 A. ClUFFlNl ETAL CONTROL FOR EXECUTIVE POSTURE CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 11, 1964 5m N f? WWW United States Patent OfiiC 3,Zi@,528 Patented Mar. 15, 1966 3,24%,528 CONTRUL FUR EXECUTIVE PUSTURE CHAHR Aureiin (Iiuflini, Bridgeport, and Philip .llosepii Williams,

Fairfield, Conn, assignors to Stewart-Warner Corporation, Chicago, llil., a corporation of Virginia Filed Mar. it, 1964, Ser. No. 351,253 9 Claims. (Cl... 291-3103) This invention relates to a chair control of the type used in an executive posture chair, wherein both the chair back and chair seat pivot about at least one given generally horizontal pivot axis and also pivot relative to one another generally at some given ratio.

In an executive posture chair, the chair seat and the chair back each resiliently pivots about a generally horizontal axis and additionally, pivots relative to one another generally with the chair back tilting more than the chair seat. Such type chairs commonly have plush leather upholstery or the like and are quite expensive. Nevertheless, the chair control must be competitively priced and of sound design, or the manufacturer will be forced by lack of demand to substitute a different control or even a different type chair.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide for an executive type posture chair an improved control of low cost that consists of a single torsion rod or bar operable to control the resilient pivotal action of both the chair back and the chair seat.

Another object of this invention is to provide for an executive type posture chair an improved control that structurally is economical to fabricate, that is of small compact design to fit handily and virtually unnoticed beneath the chair seat, and that consists of a single torsional bar or rod operable for resiliently controlling the combined pivotal actions of both the chair seat and chair back.

In order that these and other objects can be more fully appreciated, reference is herein made to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a typical executive type posture chair of the type in which this invention is intended to be used, and having therein a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the chair control shown in FIG. 1, and having the chair seat and chair back removed for clarity of disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the chair control shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial section views as seen, respectively, from lines l-4 and 55 of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of typical bushing members used in the chair control.

A typical executive type posture chair it) is shown in FIG. 1, and includes a chair pedestal 12 supported by casters M on floor 16, and in turn supporting a chair post 1'8 to which a chair control 2t? is secured. The chair con trol 2t) in turn supports the chair seat 22 and the chair back 24 relative to one another to pivot them at different pivotal ratios about at least one horizontal pivot axis (located in FIG. 1 normal to the plane of the paper). Arms 26 for the chair generally are secured to the chair seat 22 to move as a unit therewith.

FIG. 2 shows the chair control 20 in a perspective view for clarity of disclosure. The chair control 20 includes a cross member 30 that is secured rigidly to the top of the chair post 18 in an appropriate manner. The cross member 30 has at its ends fixed plates 32 and 33 which present aligned bearing means 34 for pivotally supporting seat support structure 36. The seat support structure includes spaced spider arms 38 and 39 extending generally parallel to one another and perpendicular to the cross member 3%. The spider arms 38 and 39 have openings 4h therein which are adapted to be connected by appropriate screws or the like (not shown) to the chair seat 22. A cross shaft 42 is connected to the spider arms 38 and 39 on the opposite side of the cross member 30 from the bearing means 34 and moves as a unit with the spider arms.

A back support structure 44, also pivoted to the cross member 30, supports in turn through arm 45 the chair back 24. The back support structure 44 is connected at bearing means 46 to the cross member 30 to pivot about an axis disposed generally in line with the cross member, and is further connected at bearing means 48 to the cross shaft 42. Thus, it will be noted that the cross member 30, the seat support structure 36, and the back support structure 44 are connected to each other at the bearing means 34, 46 and 48. To accommodate any movement at all of the seat or back support structures, at least one of the bearing means 34, 46 or 43 must be movable (as pivot means 46 is herein), and thereafter the movements of the seat and back support structures are related to one another. However, since the distances between the pivot axes of the bearing means 34 and 46 and the common cross shaft 42 are different, the tilts of the seat support structure 36 and the back support struc ture 44 will also be different. As shown, the back support structure 44 is designed to tilt through an angle approximately twice that of the seat support structure 36.

A torsion rod or bar 50 is keyed at 52 to the cross member 30 at end plate 32, extends freely through the bearing means 46 and likewise through bearing means 54 in the spider arm 39 and end plate 33, and is keyed to a torque lever 56. The torque lever 56, in turn, has an adjusting screw 58 at its free end directed against the underside of the spider arm 39. The torsion rod 50 thus imposes a torsional force between the fixed cross member 3t and the pivotable seat support structure 36, tending to bias the seat support structure in the counterclockwise direction as noted in FIGS. 1 and 2, until it engages the stops 6t formed on the end plates 32 and 33. As was above mentioned, since the pivotal actions of the seat support structure 36 and the back support structure 44 are related to one another, the back support structure 44 also is biased in a counterclockwise direction about the bearing means 46. Adjustment of the screw 58 varies, as is well known in the art, the initial strain imposed on the torsion bar 50 when the seat support structure 36 is in contact with the stops 60 of the cross member 30. This position corresponds to the forward position of the chair it), such as when the chair is not occupied or when the occupant of the chair does not tilt the chair rearwardly- Structurally, the control 20 can best be seen in the FIGS. 3 through 7. The cross member 30 is formed generally from a U-shaped channel having the plates 32 and 33 secured rigidly to its opposite ends, for example, by hot-staking lugs 62 on the channel and protruding through openings of the end plates over against the end plates. The pivot means 46 preferably is formed in part by stamping cars 64 from the cross member 30 each having an opening on its free end through which the torsion bar 50 extends. The back support member 44 includes two backplates 66 each having a slotted opening ea (FIG. 4) at one of its ends for receiving the torsion bar 50 and providing the movable bearing means 46. Bushings '70 (FIG. 6), preferably of plastic are positioned in back-toback relationship in the aligned openings of the cars 64 and backplates 66, and each has a square bore 71 to snugly receive therein the torsion bar 50 to form the bearing means 46. A hearing housing 72 is staked to the backplates 66 in aligned openings therein, and receives therein a bushing '74 for the shaft 42 to form thereby the bearing means 48. The shaft 42 is received within aligned openings in the spider arms 38 and 39, and held thereto by bowed snap-on rings 75 fitted into annular grooves (not shown) in the projected ends of the shaft 42.

A hinge 76 is supported adjustably to the rearward end of the backplates 66 for supporting the chair back 24 through arm 45. The hinge 76 forms no part of this invention, but will be described in relationship to the back support structure 44 so that a full understanding of the control can be had. The hinge 76 has spaced arms '78 on opposite sides of the backplates supported pivotally thereto by rivet means 80 and spacer 32. A bolt 86 exteds through aligned slotted openings in both the backplates 66 and the side arms 78 of the hinge 76, and operates with threaded handle 88 to squeeze tightly the side arms 78 against the backplate 66 to lock the hinge 76 in any of a plurality of angular adjustments relative to the backplates 66.

Each bearing means 34 between the cross member 30'- and the seat support structure 36 preferably is formed by a plastic bushing 92 (FIG. 7) received within a housing secured to each spider arm, and a headed bolt 94 received in bore 95 therein and an aligned opening in the adjacent end plate. Thus, the spider arms 38 and 39 pivot about the axis defined by the bearing means 34. The torsion bar 5t; preferably is of a square cross section so that its opposite ends can be keyed readily to the end plate 32 and the torque lever 56 by fitting into complementary square receiving openings 96 (for example, in FIG. 5 shown in the torque lever 56). The ends of the torsion bar 50 project outwardly from the end plates 32 and 33, and torque lever 56, and are secured thereto by snap-on rings 90 received in annular grooves (not shown). The end of the torsion bar 50 adjacent the torque lever 56 is supported in the bearing means 54 to rotate relative to the end plate 33, the bearing means 54 being formed by a plastic bushing '70 (FIG. 6) received within an opening in the end plate with the bore 71 closely embracing the torsion bar 50. The rearward side of cross member 30 has a stop 98 (FIG. 4) for restraining the rearward pivot motion of the chair seat and chair back by the abutment therewith of the backplates 66 of the back support structure 44. The control is compact to fit closely against the chair seat 22 to provide virtually an unnoticeable silhouette when attached to the chair 10.

In operation, the chair seat 22 pivots about the bearing means 34 While the chair back 24 pivots about the bearing means 46. The separate seat support structure 36 and back support structure 44 are secured together at a common means such as by shaft 42. Thus, pivotal action of the chair seat 22 is related to the pivotal action of the chair back 24. The single torsion bar 50 controls the resilient tilting of both the chair seat and the chair back. It has been found that preferably the tilt of the chair back 24 should be approximately twice that of the chair seat 22 so that, for example, if the chair seat 22 tilts 9 about its pivot axis, the chair back 24 would tilt 18 about its pivot axis. To meet this 2:1 ratio, the pivot means 34, 46 and 48 are generally co-planar with one another, and the distance between the pivot means 34 and 46 is approximately one-half the distance between the pivot means 34 and 48. However, it will be obvious that if a ratio other than 2:1 were desired, such would be possible merely by changing the proportions of the control.

While only a single embodiment has been disclosed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made therein without departing from the inventive scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, it is desired that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims hereinafter following.

What is claimed is:

1. A control for an executive type posture chair having a chair seat and a chair back, comprising in combination stationary support structure, seat support structure supported by the stationary support structure to pivot about a given pivot axis and adapted to support the chair seat, back support structure supported by the stationary support structure to pivot about a given pivot axis and adapted to support the chair back, means interconnecting the seat support and the back support structures at a location spaced from the above mentioned pivot axes to interconnect them thereby for limited related movements, and resilient means connected operatively between the stationary support structure and either of the pivoted support structures to bias the seat and back support structures resiliently to a position corresponding generally to the unoccupied position of the chair.

2. A control for an executive type posture chair having a chair back and a chair seat, comprising in combination stationary support structure, seat support structure supported by the stationary support structure to pivot about a given pivot axis and adapted to support the chair seat, back support structure supported by the stationary support structure to pivot about a second pivot axis and adapted to support the chair back, means connecting the seat and back support structures to one another at a location spaced from both the first and second pivot axes to interconnect them for limited elated movements, and a single torsion bar connected at one location to the stationary support structure and connected operatively at a spaced location to either of the pivoted support structures to bias them to a position corresponding generally to the unoccupied position of the chair.

3. A control for an executive type posture chair having a chair seat and a chair back, comprising in combination stationary support structure, seat support structure supported by the stationary support structure to pivot about a given pivot axis and adapted to support the chair seat, back support structure supported by the stationary support structure to pivot about a second pivot axis and adapted to support the chair back, means support-ing the seat and back support structures pivotally to one another at a third pivot axis spaced from both the first and second pivot axes, a single torsion bar connected at One location to the stationary support structure and connected at a spaced location to either one of the pivoted support structures, and means for rotating the connected support structures relative to one another about the axis of said bar to bias said pivoted support structures resiliently to a position corresponding generally to the unoccupied position of the chair.

4. A control for an executive type posture chair having a chair seat and a chair back adapted to pivot relative to one another and relative to a stationary chair post, comprising a cross member adapted to be connected to the chair post, seat support structure adapted to support the chair seat, means pivotally connecting the seat support structure to the cross member to pivot the seat support structure about a first pivot axis, a back support structure adapted to support the chair back, means pivotally connecting the back support structure to the cross member to pivot the back support structure about a second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis, means pivotally connecting the seat and back support structures to one another for pivotal movement about a third pivot axis spaced from both the first and second pivot axes, means permitting a slight change in the distance between any two of the pivotal axes to interconnect for related movements the seat and back support structures, and means including a single torsion bar connected at one location to the cross member and connected operatively at a spaced location to either of the two pivoted support structures for biasing them resiliently to a forward tilt position relative to the cross member corresponding to the unoccupied position of the chair.

5. A control for an executive type posture chair having a chair seat and a chair back adapted to pivot relative to one another and relative to a stationary chair post, comprising a cross member adapted to be connected to the chair post, seat support structure adapted to support the chair seat, means pivotally connecting the seat support structure to the cross member to pivot the seat support structure relative to the cross member about a first pivot axis, a back support structure adapted to support the chair back, means pivotally connecting the back support structure to the cross member to pivot the back support structure relative to the cross member about a second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis, means pivotally connecting the seat and back support structures to one another for pivotal movement relative to one another about a third pivot axis spaced from both the first and second pivot axes, means including at least one of the pivotal connecting means being movable to accommodate a slight movement of two of the pivot axes toward and away from one another to interconnect thereby for related movements relative to one another the seat and back support structures, and means including a single torsion bar connected at one of its ends to the cross member and connected operatively at the other of its ends to either of the two pivoted support structures for biasing them resiliently to a forward tilt position relative to the cross member corresponding to the unoccupied position of the chair and operable upon the chair seat or chair back being tilted to a rearward tilt position to be strained from its initial strained con dition to an even greater strained condition for imposing a greater resilient bias to the forward tilt position.

6. A control for an executive type posture chair having a chair seat and a chair back adapted to pivot relative to one another and relative to a stationary chair post, comprising a cross member adapted to be connected to the chair post, seat support structure adapted to support the chair seat, means pivotally connecting the seat support structure to the cross member to pivot the seat support structure relative to the cross member about a first pivot axis, a back support structure adapted to support the chair back, means pivotally connecting the back support structure to the cross member to pivot the back support structure relative to the cross member about a second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis, means pivotally connecting the seat and back support structures to one another for pivotal movement relative to one another about a third pivot axis spaced from both the first and second pivot axes, means including at least one of the pivotal connecting means being movable to accommodate a slight movement of two of the pivot axes toward and away from one another to interconnect thereby for related movements relative to one another the seat and back support structures, means including a single torsion bar connected at one of its ends to the cross member, and a torque lever keyed to the opposite end of the torsion bar and abutting the seat support structure for biasing the pivoted support structures resiliently to a forward tilt position relative to the cross member corresponding to the unoccupied position of the chair.

7. A control for an executive type posture chair having a chair seat and a chair back adapted to pivot relative to one another and relative to a stationary chair post, comprising a cross member adapted to be connected to the chair post, seat support structure adapted to support the chair seat, means pivotally connecting the seat support structure to the cross member to pivot the seat support structure about a first pivot axis located forward of the chair post, a back support structure adapted to support the chair back, means pivotally connecting the back support structure to the cross member to pivot the back support structure about a second pivot axis spaced rearwardly from the first pivot axis, means pivotally connecting the seat and back support structures to one another for pivotal movement about a third pivot axis spaced rearwardly from both the first and second pivot axes and rearward of the chair post, means to accommodate a slight movement of any two of the pivot axes toward and away from one another to interconnect for related movements the seat and back support structures, and means including a single torsion bar connected operatively between the cross member and either of the two pivoted support structures for biasing them resiliently to a forward tilt position correspond ing to the unoccupied position of the chair.

8. A control for an executive type posture chair having a chair seat and a chair back adapted to pivot relative to one another and relative to a stationary chair post, comprising a cross member adapted to be connected to the chair post, seat support structure adapted to support the chair seat, means pivotally connecting the seat support structure to the opposite ends of the cross member to pivot the seat support structure about a first generally horizontal pivot axis spaced forwardly from the chair post, a back support structure adapted to support the chair back, means pivotally connecting the back support structure to the intermediate portion of the cross member to pivot the back support structure about a second horizontal pivot axis spaced rearwardly from the first pixot axis and in line substantially with the chair post, means pivotally connecting the seat and back support structures to one another for pivotal movement about a third horizontal pivot axis spaced rearwardly from both the first and second pivot axes and rearwardly from the chair post, the pivotal connecting means for the back support structure being movable axially of the back support structure to interconnect for related movements the seat and back support structures, a single torsion bar connected at one of its ends to the cross member, and a torque lever connected at the other end of the torsion bar and engaging the seat support structure, operable with the torsion bar to bias the pivoted support structures to a forward tilt position relative to the cross member corresponding to the unoccupied position of the chair.

9. A combination for use in a chair having a pedestal carrying a cross member with perpendicular arms at 0pposite ends of said cross member, the improvement comprising a seat support structure pivotally connected to said arms, a torsion bar held against rotation in one of said arms and passing rotatably through the other arm, a back support structure pivotally carried on said seat support structure, means pivotally supporting said back support structure on said cross member for rotatable movement relative the axis of said torsion bar, and means connecting the end of said torsion bar passing through said other arm nonrotatably to either said seat support structure or said back support structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,662,586 12/1953 Cramer 297304 2,760,553 8/1956 Lie 297--304 2,778,409 1/ 1957 Soderberg 297304 2,991,125 7/1961 Lie 297-306 3,027,191 3/1962 Lie 297306 3,034,828 5/ 1962 Kurihara 297--30'6 3,111,343 11/1963 Pearson 297306 3,136,580 6/1964 Parrott 297304 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Intvrference No. 96,199 involving Patent No. 3,240,528, A. Ciuffini and P. J. Williams, CONTROL FOR EXECUTIVE POSTURE CHAIR, final judgment adverse to the patuntccs was rendered Aug. 26, 1969, as to claims 1, 2, 3, 4:, 5, 7 and 9.

[Oflicial Gazetl'ee March 9, 1.971.] 

1. A CONTROL FOR AN EXECUTIVE TYPE POSTURE CHAIR HAVING A CHAIR SEAT AND A CHAIR BACK, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION STATIONARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE, SEAT SUPPORT STRUCTURE SUPPORTED BY THE STATIONARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE TO PIVOT ABOUT A GIVEN PIVOT AXIS AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE CHAIR SEAT, BACK SUPPORT STRUCTURE SUPPORTED BY THE STATIONARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE TO PIVOT ABOUT A GIVEN PIVOT AXIS AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT AND THE BACK, MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE SEAT SUPPORT AND THE BACK SUPPORT STRUCTURES AT A LOCATION SPACED FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED PIVOT AXES TO INTERCONNECT THEM THEREBY FOR LIMITED RELATED MOVEMENTS, AND RESILIENT MEANS CONNECTED OPERATIVELY BETWEEN THE STATIONARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND EITHER OF THE PIVOTED SUPPORT STRUCTURES TO BIAS THE SEAT AND BACK SUPPORT STRUCTURES RESILIENTLY TO A POSITION CORRESPONDING GENERALLY TO THE UNOCCUPIED POSITION OF THE CHAIR. 